Tuesday, March 31, 2015

So I guess Comedy Central found someone to replace Jon Stewart as host of the "comedy" news program The Daily Show. To be honest, I hadn't ever heard the name of Stewart's successor, Trevor Noah, until this week.

As potential audience members scoured his past work and social media presence for more clues to Mr. Noah, a South African comedian, they uncovered many posts on his Twitter account that they deemed offensive to women or Jews.

Comedy Central announced on Monday that Mr. Noah, 31, would succeed Jon Stewart as anchor of “The Daily Show,” its satirical late-night news program, when Mr. Stewart steps down this year. Though Mr. Noah has performed stand-up comedy around the world, he is not widely known in the United States, and he had appeared as an on-air contributor to “The Daily Show” only three times before being named as host.

On Twitter, where he has had an account since 2009 and accumulated more than two million followers, Mr. Noah often posts irreverent statements that reflect his interests in popular culture, global politics and issues of race. As with many comedians, Mr. Noah’s jokes can test the boundaries of what is socially permissible and what is in bad taste.

In several posts, Mr. Noah came across as mocking or derisive of women. In one from 2011, he writes: “Oh yeah the weekend. People are gonna get drunk & think that I’m sexy!” a quote that he attributes to “fat chicks everywhere.”

In a post from last year, he quotes another Twitter user who writes, “When a woman is loved correctly, she becomes 10 times the woman she was before,” to which Mr. Noah adds: “So she gets fat?”

After a firestorm of criticism ensued, Noah responded via Twitter.

To reduce my views to a handful of jokes that didn’t land is not a true reflection of my character, nor my evolution as a comedian.
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 31, 2015

Lemme get this straight. The new host of The Daily Show is complaining that he's being taken out of context and that his true intentions are being skewered?!?! Huh. That's....uhhh......ironic.

Monday, March 30, 2015

When I first heard of the disappearance of University of Minnesota student Jennifer Houle, who had not been seen since leaving a Dinkytown bar at 1:00 a.m. Friday morning, I had little hope she would be found safe once it got past 36 hours without contact. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to pray for her return without knowing for sure what had happened. I actually recognized her last name, as I went to high school with kids named "Houle." Sure enough, I was in the same grade as her uncle. Despite the fact I hadn't seen said classmate in nearly 20 years, it became a little personal. When I was growing up on the east side of St. Paul, we were a tight-knit community, one which was there for each other in a time of crisis, regardless if neighbors were close friends or mere acquaintances.

Minneapolis police on Monday confirmed video evidence shows missing University of Minnesota student and Pi Beta Phi sorority member Jennifer Houle went into the Mississippi River from the 10th Avenue Bridge early Friday morning. The Hennepin County sheriff's office has been called in for a water recovery effort.

Houle, 22, had last been seen by friends at the Blarney Pub in Dinkytown sometime between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Friday, March 27. Police said no suspects are being sought.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the Houle family and all of Jennifer's many friends," Minneapolis police said in a statement. "The Minneapolis Police Department and the family of Jennifer Houle wish to thank the many people who provided support, assistance, and information since Jennifer's disappearance. The Houle family has requested privacy at this difficult time."

While I'm certain the family is, in a very small way, relieved to have some clarity regarding Jennifer's whereabouts, more questions are likely to arise. Was this an accident or did she willingly take her own life? If it's the latter, this will lead to additional questions as well as more anguish to the family.

Continued prayers, thoughts and any other karmic interventions to be extended their way.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Another Sunday, yet another edition of The Closer on the Northern Alliance Radio Network. I'll be on the air from 1:00 until 3:00 PM Central Time.

Right at 1:00, political wonk Matt Mackowiak will check in for a quick segment to discuss the recently announced presidential candidacy of his friend Ted Cruz.

Then for a couple of segments in the 1:00 hour, I will pay homage to outgoing Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), who announced this past week he will not seek reelection in 2016. Alas, I will not come to praise Reid, but to bury him.

For the 2:00 hour, AM 1280 The Patriot promotions guy and fellow Minnesota Twins rube Ross Brendel will stop by the Patriot bunker to preview the 2015 season for our favorite baseball club.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to discuss any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast, if you so desire. Check it out here.

Friday, March 27, 2015

To this day whenever I hear the name Harry Reid, I firmly recall Dennis Miller's verbal savaging of the U.S. Senator from Nevada in the summer of 2007.

Outside of President Barack Obama, there's no other leftist politician whom I have blogged about more frequently than Reid.

Given Friday's announcement from the Senate Minority Leader, I won't have the U.S. Senate's most hack-tastic member to kick around for much longer as Reid will not seek reelection in 2016.

While not totally unexpected, his decision to forgo what would have been a difficult race still shook the Capitol on Friday and represented the first major transition in the Democratic leadership of the Senate or House in years. He endorsed Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York to succeed him in 2017.

Mr. Reid, 75, who suffered serious eye and facial injuries in a Jan. 1 exercise accident at his Las Vegas home, said he had been contemplating retiring from the Senate for months. He said his decision was not attributable either to the accident or to his demotion to minority leader after Democrats lost the majority in November’s midterm elections.

If there's one lasting impression I have of Reid it would be his borderline dictatorial behavior. He would often take to the Senate floor and call out individual U.S. citizens who had the audacity to use their First Amendment rights to say things diametrically opposed to Reid's beliefs. Whether it was conservative radio titan Rush Limbaugh or the Koch brothers, it wasn't beyond Reid to demand they be reprimanded for their conduct or flat out call them "Un-American" during a speech.

Heck, even regular everyday Americans didn't escape Reid's ire. How about when folks were sharing their health insurance difficulties which occurred upon the implementation of Obamacare. Reid essentially called them liars.

Reid was also one of the more manipulative politicians as well (hardly a novel concept, I realize). Remember in the spring of 2009 when Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter switched to the Democrat party, thus giving the Dems a super majority of 60 senators? In exchange for such a move, Reid promised Specter advanced seniority when it came to committee positions. Reid reneged.

Honestly, there's myriad more examples of Reid's insufferable hackery I could go through. And while Reid moving on from politics is a good thing for discourse, the prospect of Sen. Schumer becoming the new Dem leader doesn't exactly elicit a rosy picture.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

I was a rabid fan of the NHL's Minnesota North Stars from the time I was in the 5th grade (1979-80) until the franchise relocated to Dallas after the 1992-93 season. It was at that point that I had become utterly apathetic towards pro hockey.

Within the next 5 years or so, it was announced that Minnesota would be awarded an expansion franchise beginning in the 2000-01 season, and they would be called the Minnesota Wild. While there was much rejoicing among many Minnesotans over the return of the NHL, I just wasn't all that interested.....until the club's third season that is. That was when the Wild first made the playoffs, many surmising that the franchise's progression was ahead of schedule. Nevertheless, they upset the mighty Colorado Avalanche in round one, culminating with a dramatic overtime goal by Andrew Brunette in Game 7. Then in the second round, the Wild rallied from a 3 games to 1 deficit to the Vancouver Canucks, winning another dramatic seven game series. So in merely their third year in existence, the Wild were playing in a conference finals! Alas, two seven game series proved to be too much as the Wild scored merely one goal in four games as they were swept by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and sizzling hot goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

After three opening round series losses over the next nine seasons (where I was again firmly indifferent), the Wild broke through last year in the first round with yet another dramatic Game 7 overtime win over Colorado. And while they gave the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks a battle in round two, the Wild were dispatched in six games.

So coming into this season, I was once again on the Wild bandwagon. After a nice start to the season where they won 7 of the first 10 games, the team's goaltending started to go south. The season's low point came on January 13 when the Wild lost 7-2 in Pittsburgh. That was the Wild's sixth straight loss, putting their record at 18-19-5, well out of contention for a playoff spot. Out of sheer desperation, the Wild swung a trade for Arizona Coyotes backup goalie Devan Dubnyk the next day in an effort to shore up their biggest weakness. At the time, the deal was met with a yawn as the journeyman Dubnyk had a career record of 70-82-24 and a 2.88 Goal Against average with three different teams in 5-1/2 years.

But after Tuesday's 2-1 Shootout road win over the New York Islanders, Dubnyk, who has started literally every single game since the trade (32 consecutive games, a Wild franchise record for a goalie) now has a record of 24-6-1 with a GAA of around 1.70 while with the club. The victory over the Isles was the Wild's 10th consecutive road win (also a franchise record).

I'm old enough to remember both Stanley Cup Finals appearances (1981 and 1991) by the North Stars when they were in Minnesota. The ecstasy and exhilaration displayed at the Metropolitan Sports Center (the Stars' home arena) is still firmly entrenched in my mind.

After what looked like a woefully underachieving season in mid January, the Wild look to be in prime position to make a deep playoff run. If indeed that happens, I will gladly divert my attention away from my favorite professional sport (Major League Baseball) for two months while I occupy my front seat on the Wild's bandwagon.

Monday, March 23, 2015

- Regardless of whom the GOP presidential nominee is in 2016, I will cast my vote for that candidate. As of this moment, my personal front runner is Wisconsin governor Scott Walker (In fact, my friend and radio colleague Mitch Berg and I feel quite strongly about a Walker/Susana Martinez ticket).

Facing a rapt audience as he launched his long-expected bid for the presidency at Liberty University Monday, U.S. Sen Ted Cruz delivered a rousing 30-minute speech in which he pledged to "reignite the promise of America."

I personally heard Cruz speak in person last August at an Eeeeeeevil Koch Bros. sponsored meeting the annual Americans for ProsperityDefending the American Dream summit in Dallas. He was charismatic, funny and highly energetic. His campaign kickoff speech Monday appeared to possess those traits as well.

..{F}rom the stage, where Cruz paced the four corners without notes, he could look out on a sea of welcoming faces. He highlighted his story as the son of a Baptist preacher running as a small government social conservative committed to a traditional definition of marriage, school "choice," and opposition to abortion rights.

He talked about the "transformative love of Jesus Christ," and asked students to "imagine a federal government that works to defend the sanctity of human life and to uphold the sacrament of marriage."

Sure, all that appeals to me as staunch conservative. But c'mon, let's have a little reality check here. Do we honestly believe this country can be swayed to elect as President a first term U.S. Senator who gives passionate speeches which lack specifics on a substantive agenda and, on top of that, has to endure questions about his U.S. citizenship?

- I'm sensing a high profile game of "chicken" between the Minnesota Vikings and the camp of their star running back Adrian Peterson.

"I don't think it's in Adrian's best interest to play in Minnesota. Why would it be?"

Why? Well, for starters, Peterson just turned 30, an age where running backs quickly begin to regress. As such, the Vikings are likely the only team in the NFL who will pay him north of $10 million in 2015 (his current contract calls for him to make $12.75 million). The Vikings have already gone on record saying they will not release Peterson, thus he wouldn't be available to any team (via free agency) who would be willing to take a flier on him at a significantly reduced salary (assuming Peterson would even consider taking such a cut). So if Peterson does go elsewhere, he would have to be traded. However, I can't think of any team out there willing to take on that exorbitant contract, never mind the potential public relations headache.

Regardless, all that seems moot if you believe Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf.

"The bottom line is Adrian is an important part of the Minnesota Vikings. He's represented us on and off the field. We're getting ready for the 2015 season and we fully expect him to join his teammates and be a part of what we feel is going to be a great season ahead."

So is the next move of Peterson's camp to issue a holdout threat? If so, my spiteful side hopes the Wilfs call them on that bluff and let Peterson sit for another year. Since he has brought all this on himself, it would serve him right.

- When it was announced last month that the state of Minnesota had a $1.9 Billion projected budget surplus, there was much debate over what do with such spoils. Naturally, the DFL wanted to spend it all in addition to (surprise!) raising other taxes. GOP legislators, however, didn't specifically convey what they wanted done, except to say this should remove talk of an increase in the gasoline tax.

With that in mind, it would appear that the Republican Party of Minnesota had gone rogue with it's "Give It Back!" initiative announced a couple of weeks ago. Despite airing a TV commercial featuring Chairman Keith Downey lobbying for the surplus to be returned to Minnesota families, very few GOP legislators expressed support for the campaign.

Republican lawmakers on Monday proposed a $7 billion plan that they called an investment in transportation over the next decade.

And how to fund it?

Republicans want to avoid any tax increases. Instead, they would redirect money from several existing taxes to be spent on transportation.

Their plan would also use about $230 million of the surplus for a one-time transportation infusion and would borrow $2.3 billion. About $1 billion of the borrowing would be general obligation bonds, which require a three-fifths majority to pass.

Their plan includes less ongoing spending, banks on more than $1 billion in efficiencies and savings at the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and has little money for metro-area transit.

Emphasis was mine.

The aforementioned transportation funding proposal would seem to indicate that "giving it back" is a nonstarter.

Meanwhile, the state party website continues to tout it's "Give It Back!" campaign by asking folks to sign a petition in support for that program. Just below that is a link to the Republican legislators' plan of putting roads and bridges first.....and asking people to sign a petition in agreement. Awkward!

Sunday, March 22, 2015

I'm hearing of a Winter Weather Advisory being issued in the Twin Cities today. As such, it's probably best that you locals stay indoors and tune in to the Northern Alliance Radio Network this afternoon. I'll be on the air from 1:00 until 3:00 Central Time.

Some of the items I plan on addressing included the Scott Walker comms staffer kerfuffle, MNsure being in peril, news where the NFL may be on the downside, etc.

At 1:30 I'll be joined by Alpha News's new Chief Capitol reporter Julia Erynn. We'll discuss Julia's new venture as well as some of the news stories she's reported on this past week.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to discuss any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast, if you so desire. Check it out here.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Ashley Hinshaw is an actress whom I had never heard of until I recently stumbled across a Comedy Central show called Workaholics(an awful show, in my opinion). Ms. Hinshaw was starring in an episode of said show, so when I first saw her I thought she bore a striking resemblance to Savannah.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

The National Football League is by far the most popular professional sports league in America. In terms of revenue generated and television ratings, that's indisputable. What's also indisputable is the game has a taken a public relations hit given some of the seedy off-field activity of players.

The NFL has also taken a P.R. hit over allegations it failed to properly warn players of long-term physical issues resulting from multiple concussions suffered during their respective careers (Over the past couple of years, there's been legal haggling over a $765 million settlement the NFL reached with players diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)).

Now that there has been more light shed on what players may endure as a result of multiple brain injuries, we may be getting to a point where potential and current NFL players begin to seriously assess the risk. Just last year, then Chicago Bears safety Chris Conte raised a few eyebrows with some statements he made after a season where he was documented to have two concussions.

I’d rather have the experience of playing in the NFL and die 10 to 15 years earlier than not play in the NFL and have a long life. I don’t really look toward my life after football. I’ll figure things out when I get there. As long as I outlive my parents…. I’m not saying I’m going to go die when I’m 45, 50. I’m fortunate to go out and play football.

Linebacker Chris Borland of the San Francisco 49ers, one of the top rookies in the N.F.L. last season, is the latest case, and perhaps the most noteworthy. He said Monday that he was retiring because of concerns about his safety, and his decision may have ripple effects well beyond the professional ranks.

“From what I’ve researched and what I’ve experienced, I don’t think it’s worth the risk,” Borland told ESPN, referring to the multiple concussions he had sustained.

For all the disturbing video (e.g. Ray Rice slugging his then fiancee in an elevator) and images (e.g. Adrian Peterson's son having multiple cuts/lacerations from being whipped with a switch) NFL fans witnessed as a result of players' off-field behaviors in 2014, it had zero affect on the game's popularity as well as the league's bottom line. But when quality NFL players like Borland begin to ponder if an NFL career is worth the legitimate risk to one's long-term health, this is one area where the league is vulnerable. Quite obviously the NFL can't maintain its grand status as America's favorite pro sport/entertainment source if the talent pool becomes more diluted with each passing season. No amount of tinkering with on-field rules will completely deter risk to a player's physical well being.

Whether a scenario like Borland's is an anomaly or becomes more the norm remains to be seen. But if the NFL brushes this off as an isolated incident, they do so at their own peril.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Almost two years ago this day, Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law MNsure, which is Minnesota's state healthcare exchange. And from day one it's been beset with problems.

Whether it was the overly ambitious goal of having a usable website within seven months, inept upper management, an insurance carrier with the cheapest rates opting out of the exchange, or said exchange being the proverbial money pit, MNsure has had little to no positives on which to glean. And the DFL has no one but themselves to blame given they had complete control of state government when this law was constructed. And because DFLers had carte blanche to do whatever they so desired, GOP input into this legislation was pretty well ignored.

Whenever there was input from Republican legislators on how to fix this MNsure monstrosity once it was law, Dayton (as he is wont to do) merely lashed out at critics as being "dastardly" or accused Republicans of grandstanding on the issue. It was pretty clear that Dayton himself was not serious on how to address very obvious shortcomings.

Last month Legislative Auditor James Nobles, whom many in both parties consider to be the most even-handed individual in St. Paul, was very plain in his criticism, emphasizing that MNsure's "failures have outweighed its achievements" in year one. Despite that, Dayton still seemed determined to bury his head in the sand. I guess it's easy for Dayton to utilize such an approach since he doesn't have the burden of facing voters in 2016, unlike his fellow DFLers in both chambers of the legislature.

Gov. Mark Dayton is open to abolishing MNsure, the embattled health insurance exchange he championed and has defended from Republican attacks, the governor announced Monday.

That’s the most drastic option Dayton mentioned Monday in a letter calling for a task force to study “future options” for health care reform in Minnesota. Dayton says the task force could look at replacing MNsure with a federal health insurance exchange, with keeping MNsure but seeking a federal waiver to make major reforms, or with just making minor adjustments to shore up the agency.

“The task force would consider all conceivable options,” Dayton wrote in the letter to legislative leaders.

Republicans have called for major reforms to MNsure, specifically either abolishing it or seeking a waiver to make major reforms.

“We don’t think we should continually put Minnesotans through that messy process,” Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, said earlier this year, while introducing a bill backed by Republican leadership to make major changes to MNsure.

While I'm certain the GOP is somewhat encouraged that Dayton is finally acknowledging MNsure's problems, there's still some gaps to be closed.

Though Dayton’s task force proposal opens the governor up to major MNsure reforms, it would also delay those reforms until at least next year. His task force would report by Jan. 1, 2016.

Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt slammed the task force as a stalling tactic.

“I don’t think it’s sustainable that long,” Daudt said of MNsure. “Frankly we can’t let Minnesotans continue to get hurt by this, and we can’t sit by for another year while more Minnesotans are hurt by it. So it’s time to deal with it, and it’s time to deal with it right now.”

Dayton had every opportunity to acknowledge MNsure's issues last year and thus he and the DFL-controlled House and Senate could've been viewed as the saviors had meaningful reforms been enacted. But since they all continued to kick the proverbial can down the road, any reforms now will require some acquiescence to a GOP majority in the House. As Daudt said, it needs to be sooner rather than later.

Monday, March 16, 2015

We may be 20 months away from electing a new President but that doesn't mean prospective candidates' every move won't be closely scrutinized.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's political action committee has hired prominent Republican strategist Liz Mair to lead online communication efforts, CNN Politics has learned, taking yet another step toward building a team for what is expected to become a presidential campaign later this year.

Mair's political consulting firm will advise on social media and blogger outreach for Walker's PAC, Our American Revival, by providing input on digital strategy and messaging, Mair told CNN on Monday. She'll be joined by associates Brittany Cover and Dan Blum.

The announcement is part of a hiring spree for Walker, who's presidential campaign-in-waiting has brought on veteran strategist Rick Wiley as campaign manager and signed up former Mitt Romney strategists Danny O'Driscoll and Wells Griffith. Walker has also lined up influential activists in early-voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.

I'm somewhat familiar with Mair, specifically her work on the ill fated Rick Perry presidential campaign in 2011-2012 (I followed Ms. Mair on Twitter for a couple of years but her penchant for profanity got to be too much for me, so I un-followed).

Some conservatives also caught wind of this hire and were more than a bit dismayed. Apparently Mair is "pro-amnesty" as well supports same-sex marriage. This set off a few social cons, many of whom expressed dismay that Walker himself must have a similar ideology, or else why would he hire someone with Mair's views? Well last time I checked, a "communications specialist" does not set the agenda for a prospective presidential candidate, rather he/she communicates said candidate's already predetermined message.

As I alluded to earlier, Mair was on the Rick Perry for President staff 3-4 years ago. Perry himself believed marriage should be between one woman and one man, views diametrically opposed to Mair's. So it seems to me Ms. Mair had no issue taking direction from a fellow Republican whose ideology differed from hers.

Mair has a history with Walker's election machine: She led his online communication strategy during his recall election in 2012, when Democrats waged an aggressive, yet unsuccessful effort to remove Walker from office after he curbed the power of public sector unions in Wisconsin.

And for the record, it would appear Walker's stance on same-sex marriage as well as amnesty differs from Mair's views. Apparently Ms. Mair isn't in a twist over it given she not only worked on Walker's successful 2012 recall election but also agreed to join his current PAC.

If anything, this hire might help Walker's presidential prospects in that it shows all stripes of Republicans are welcome to work on his presidential campaign. After all, it's going to take more than a conservative electorate for Walker (or any Republican for that matter) to win in 2016. And whatever message Gov. Walker has to convey to voters, I'm confident Ms. Mair et al will communicate it exactly the way he intends.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Today may be the first 70 degree day in Minnesota in 2015, but you should at least be tuned in to the Northern Alliance Radio Network (indoors or outdoors) today. As usual, The Closer will be broadcasting from 1:00 until 3:00 PM Central Time.

On the national political scene, I'll opine on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emerging from the proverbial bunker to address her using a personal email address to conduct federal government business.

There's been other high profile political news items which I may or may not have an opportunity to weigh in on given today being a guest intensive show.

Then at 2:00 I'll be joined by Devin Foley of Better Ed, an organization "dedicated to leading an educational renaissance in America." The folks at B.E. caused quite a stir recently by co-opting the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag on Twitter to point out how the Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools have failed its black students. Finally at 2:30. friend of the NARN/author/blogger Katie Kieffer will give us a recap of her speaking engagement yesterday at the Defend Our Defenders Rally in Washington, D.C. Said rally was put together by the organization United American Patriots. So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to discuss any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast, if you so desire. Check it out here.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Since my wife and I have no kids, we're often quick to accept invitations to social gatherings put on by friends, acquaintances, etc.

Upon our arrival at a given soiree, the fetching Mrs. Carlson and I have no trouble diving right in to the various social protocols, whether it's introducing ourselves to those we haven't met, carrying on prolonged conversations after partaking in the initial appetizers & beverages, etc.

In my younger days (late teens, into my 20s) it was the social interaction which caused me to feel most awkward. But as I got in to my 30s, the socializing was markedly better but I was utterly inept when it came to making a smooth, graceful exit. In essence, it felt as though the process of leaving was all too similar to Howard Mohr's depiction of "The Minnesota Long Goodbye" as detailed in his book How to Talk Minnesotan.
Here's a the video version:

Thankfully I've exorcised that Minnesota passive aggressiveness to where leaving is not such a strenuous endeavor. But when there's merely one other couple, bidding adieu isn't quite the laborious process as it is among a party of 20+ friends and acquaintances.

So what does one do in that kind of situation?

What I've become accustom to doing over the past decade or so is just finding that opportune time when all others are occupied and then I quickly take my leave. Initially I felt guilty for doing so, like it's rude to not say goodbye to anyone. However, I'm sure to make a phone call to the host(s) or send a text message within 12 hours of my departure to offer my gratitude for the party invite. And you know, after all these years of perfecting this routine, there's been nary a party host or guest that ever lamented "I sure wish you had said goodbye before you left."

Ghosting—aka the Irish goodbye, the French exit, and any number of other vaguely ethnophobic terms—refers to leaving a social gathering without saying your farewells. One moment you’re at the bar, or the house party, or the Sunday morning wedding brunch. The next moment you’re gone. In the manner of a ghost. “Where’d he go?” your friends might wonder. But—and this is key—they probably won’t even notice that you’ve left.

Upon reading the entire post, I experienced that wonderful emotion of complete vindication.

Oh, it got better.

Let’s free ourselves from this meaningless, uncomfortable, good time–dampening kabuki. People are thrilled that you showed up, but no one really cares that you’re leaving. Granted, it might be aggressive to ghost a gathering of fewer than 10. And ghosting a group of two or three is not so much ghosting as ditching. But if the party includes more than 15 or 20 attendees, there’s a decent chance none will notice that you’re gone, at least not right away. (It may be too late for them to cancel that pickleback shot they ordered for you, but, hey, that’s on them.) If there’s a guest of honor, as at a birthday party, I promise you that person is long ago air-kissed out. Just ghost.

Still think it’s an etiquette breach? Simply replace your awkward goodbye with a heartfelt email sent the following morning. This note can double as a formal thank you to the host—a rare gesture these days, and one that actually does have value. (You can even include the link to that English Beat video you couldn’t stop raving about last night.) Got a safety concern, and want to alert people that you’re stepping out alone into the dangerous night? Send a text after you’re out the door.

Since I've pretty much perfected the art of "ghosting," I may take it a step further by already having my obligatory thank you text/tweet/email in the "drafts" folder. Once I'm out the door, I'll merely have to hit "send."

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

To be honest, I'd prefer that the NFL's Washington Redskins would change their racially insensitive nickname. But with anything I consider to be personally offensive, I sure as heck don't want any government agency to act on behalf of my discomfort, especially in situations where no laws are being violated.

Last summer, the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office canceled federal trademarks owned by the Redskins' franchise. What that meant was any merchandise sold with the official Redskins logo would no longer be the intellectual property of the team or the NFL. In essence, the USTPO deemed the Redskins name offensive, thus deciding those offended should not have to endure such feelings. So until the team changes its name, this government agency has decided to engage in actions which are tantamount to extortion.

Thankfully the American Civil Liberties Union, the organization which claims to "defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States," was not willing to stand idly by.

The American Civil Liberties Union is siding with the Washington Redskins in a court battle over the team's name.

The ACLU filed papers last week supporting the team's position that canceling the Redskins trademark violates the team's free-speech rights.

A federal panel ruled last year the trademark should be canceled, but the team is challenging that decision in federal court in Alexandria.

In its brief, the ACLU says it has joined others in calling on the Redskins to change their name because it is offensive. But they say the government cannot cancel the trademark simply because it finds the name disparaging.

On Monday, lawyers for the Native Americans who challenged the trademark said the ACLU should not be allowed to intervene in the case.

Again, the issue here is government designating what is and what isn't offensive. There's no safeguards in the U.S. Constitution which protect a specific group or individual from any kind of affront. Now if a private business were to pull its sponsorship and/or advertising dollars in protest of the Redskins moniker, that is perfectly legitimate. As such, if enough other sponsors follow suit, that may ultimately force the team to change its nickname. But when a government agency attempts to dictate how a lawful business enterprise conducts itself, that appears to fly in the face of basic civil rights.

I have a feeling this kerfuffle won't be settled until the case is ultimately heard in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

In regards to the Hillary Clinton email scandal, Republican strategist Rick Wilson conveyed a message to GOP politicos tempted to pounce on this story.

Let’s try something new: maintain message discipline, hold focus and keep an eye on a bigger objective than your daily press release, social media hits or email fundraising drops. This is about her, not us, so unless GOP elected and opinion leaders are smart and subtle, and execute with the right timing and tone, she wins. Try for once to play the long game and help Hillary Clinton take on water.

You can sense the Clintons are on the back foot; her now-infamous tweet and promises of transparency last week were nothing more than rehashed Clinton stalling tactics from the 1990s, when there were only a handful of media outlets and a relatively hermetic press culture. It was as stale as a faxed statement, three days late in the era of always-on social media. That won’t work today, if we’re smart. She’s blowing this; let’s help.

Two days after Wilson penned that advice, Mrs. Clinton made her first public statements regarding her using a personal email domain for all electronic correspondence as Secretary of State.

The wannabe-Democratic president said at a press conference that she ‘did not choose to keep’ anything that was official government business after she was asked to hand over her records to the State Department.

She broke her silence after days of mounting questions over her email arrangements, which included keeping the messages on a private server at her home in New York that is protected by the Secret Service.

Ummm.....once again Mrs. Clinton still seems to be in a 20th century mindset. You see, hackers don't need access to the physical server to extract information. That thing could be in Fort friggin' Knox and it wouldn't make a bit of difference.

Clinton explained that she used a personal email address so that she didn't have to carry around two phones or devices.
'I saw it as a matter of convenience. It was allowed. Others had done it,' she said during the Tuesday afternoon press conference.

Again, technology has advanced to the point of someone being able to have multiple email addresses on one device. Sheesh, Rick Wilson wasn't kidding when he said Mrs. Clinton is "blowing this."

What today's presser also showed is that Mrs. Clinton comes nowhere near the adeptness of her husband in how to handle the press corps, something at which the folks at Buzzfeedtook notice.

In the end, this does nothing to deter Mrs. Clinton's intentions to run for president in 2016. In fact, I'm reading that the official announcement of her candidacy will take place on or around April 1. Make of that what you will.

I think the key aspect of this is it's being covered by outlets like CNN, the New York Times and the Washington Post, none of which are exactly right-of-center hubs. If that kind of coverage persists as investigations into Mrs. Clinton's activities endure, Republicans, as Rick Wilson pointed out, shouldn't have to aid in the implosion.

Wilson concluded his piece thusly:

It’s vital to have a plan, to execute it with discipline and proceed against Clinton with a measured pace and tone. Speak more in sorrow than in anger. Don’t make it all about Benghazi (they’re expecting that) or the record-keeping laws (boring). Touch on those selectively, but focus instead on the grave national security risks that her amateur-hour email server shenanigan posed and more broadly what this says about the Clinton culture. Her team can yammer on about the legality of it all, her motivations or the traffic content, but the moment this becomes about the Chinese, Iranians, Russians or even just random hackers reading the email (classified or not) of the Secretary of State, it’s a new ballgame.

I encourage you to use the smarmy D.C. construction of “I just want to work in a bipartisan way for good, transparent government and to protect national security secrets from the Chinese, Russians, and other threats” that the Acela Media claims to worship. Republicans have heard the hard ideologues on the left use it a million times while grinding their teeth in frustration. Avoid making wild claims about either the substance or political outcomes of investigations. Reduce expectations, rather than raise them. Don’t let one single member of Congress or leader be the only face in the room; the Clintons love to demonize a single target, so vary your portfolio. Be persistent. Be serious. Be smart.

This is a golden opportunity to thwart the Clinton dynasty once and for all. Don't blow it, gang.

Monday, March 09, 2015

I have to tell ya, enduring two solid months of proverbial pants-wetting of conservatives/tea partiers/WIBERTY! types makes me want to quit following politics altogether. And if parent company Salem Communications, the outfit which runs the station where I host a primarily political talk show, wants to establish an all-sports station then I'd jump ship in a heartbeat.

Ah, but who am I kidding? It wouldn't be but a few days of abstaining from politics before I'd start sounding like Michael Corleone in TheGodfather: Part III --- "Just when I thought I was out....they pull me back in."

Yes, Congressional Republicans have stumbled out of the gate. Whether it was the reelection of John Boehner as House Speaker (not a huge deal, in my mind), flubbing a pro-life legislation (something that should be a proverbial layup for the GOP) or the caving on DHS funding which was supposed to include a provision to thwart President Obama's executive amnesty, there hasn't been a lot of positives to point to if you're a Republican. But to demand once again that Boehner be removed as Speaker is an utter waste of energy. At this stage in the game it a) won't work and b) will only serve to provide irreversible damage to the GOP in 2016. Good luck maintaining a Congressional majority (to say nothing of winning the presidency) if that happens.

Townhall's Kurt Schlichter has a message for those on the right who are ready to pack it in.

No, the fight’s not over. So stop whining that you can’t go back to sitting on your rear end – we have a long campaign ahead. I know you’re tired. I know you’re frustrated. And I don’t care.

Some people want to throw in the towel just as we are approaching the knockout. News flash: Our opponents punch back. Time to take the hit and drive on.

We’re winning, only we haven’t won yet. So pick up your (figurative) weapons and follow me. The fight’s up ahead, and we’re going to keep moving to the sound of the guns.

Writer Brian Cates has the right idea. Jolted into action by Andrew Breitbart, as so many of us were, he watched conservatives win in 2010 and things marginally improve. Then 2012 moved us backwards. Then 2014 moved us forward again as we retook Congress. Then, last week, he watched Team Boehner and McConnell roll over on immigration funding after utterly botching their strategy in a manner that would make the French Army proud.

So, like all of us, he had reached a decision point. His options: Give up or fight on. In a brilliant series of tweets, collected here, he chose to fight on. (Hat Tip: Glenn Reynolds)

Yeah, the GOP stinks. Yeah, there is a contingent within the GOP that prioritizes its own power and position over conservatism. Well, welcome to human nature – a certain percentage of human beings simply suck. You can cry about it like Nancy Pelosi at a Bibi speech or you can man-up and deal.

The only viable strategy is this – complete the seizure of the GOP’s infrastructure, turn it completely conservative, and then go and defeat the liberals. And that’s hard. And that won’t happen overnight. And we’re going to be disappointed – probably a lot. But the alternative is to cede the country to the liberal fascists who want to force us to live in carbon-free huts, steal our sacred Constitutional rights, and peer into our bedrooms lest we commit felony cisnormativism.

I’m not willing to let that happen. What about you?

Mr. Schlichter made reference to the 2010 midterms where the GOP seized the U.S. House and put a significant dent in the Dems' large majority if the Senate. Undeniably, the new "Tea Party" movement was instrumental in helping the GOP have a great election night in '10. But I remember expressing concern that, in particular, the Tea Party movement (comprised of a good number of newbies to political activism) would feel a sense of accomplishment, a finality if you will because so many conservatives were elected. But the fact of the matter is the fight was merely beginning and that it would take sustained effort to make significant changes. That includes making sure your representatives constantly hear from you if you're disaffected. Oh and by the way, when I say "hear from you," it goes far beyond spouting utter nonsense B.S. on social media.

Schlichter, a military vet, wrapped up his piece in grand style.

I don’t want to hear about how hard this fight is. I don’t want to hear how sad you are. I want to hear how you went out and replaced that time-serving hack on your local GOP central committee.

Stop whining. Our country is at stake. This is going to be hard. Too bad. Now ruck up and move out.

Sunday, March 08, 2015

So.....pretty slow news week, eh? I guess I can't think of a better way to celebrate the Northern Alliance Radio Network's 11th anniversary weekend then to try and get to it all. As such, my radio program The Closer will be humming along from 1:00 PM until 3:00 Central Time.

The Hillary Clinton email controversy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking before Congress and the Congressional Republicans caving in the executive amnesty fight will all be on the docket.

At 2:30, Miss South Central 2015 Alyson Kriz will stop by the Patriot bunker. Alyson won her title last month, so now she is in full swing in preparing for this summer's Miss Minnesota pageant. She'll discuss said preparations as well as her platform Freedom from Fear: Fighting Mental Illness.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to discuss any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast, if you so desire. Check it out here.

Thursday, March 05, 2015

In the 2012 election cycle, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney was asked about contraception and U.S. Senate hopefuls Todd Akin & Richard Mourdock were questioned about rape. In a situation where typically less than a minute is given to answer, retorts to such odd inquiries can be non-eloquent or have their context mangled by leftists and their media cohorts.

Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon and potential Republican presidential candidate, said Wednesday that “a lot of people who go into prison straight, and when they come out they’re gay.”

The remarks were made on CNN’s “New Day” in response to a question from host Chris Cuomo, who asked if Carson thought being gay was a “choice.”

“Absolutely,” Carson replied.

Asked why, he went on to explain his prison theory. “So did something happen while they were in there?” he said. “Ask yourself that question.”

While I admire Dr. Carson's incredible life story of escaping childhood poverty to become one of the world's most renown neurosurgeons, I've never taken him seriously as a presidential candidate. And I also appreciated Dr. Carson's performance at the National Prayer Breakfast two years ago where he substantively criticized Obamacare with President Obama sitting literally two seats away. But as we've seen with White House's current occupant, one fantastic public speech (in Obama's case, his address at the 2004 Democrat National Convention) does not necessarily translate to being a credible presidential candidate.

It seems silly to convey that this moment was the death knell of Carson's White House aspirations given that he's likely been crossed off many GOP lists from the get-go. Yes, it was likely Dr. Carson's insistence that vaccinations be mandatory as well as hints of favoring gun control that made his candidacy D.O.A.

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

The Tuesday speech Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave before Congress had twitter lighting up like a pinball machine. Many leftists in particular took exception to the fact that Congress would usurp President Obama's executive authority by extending such an invitation to a foreign leader. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that many of these same dissenters expressed little to no outrage over Obama ignoring the separation of powers by legislating from the Oval Office (i.e. "executive amnesty"). Besides, I'm old enough to remember when leftists gave credence to foreign leaders who criticized the foreign policy of a sitting president.

President Obama, who predictably did not attend the speech, chided Netanyahu for not conveying a viable alternative to the United States' current (yet unexplained) negotiation with Iran regarding nukes. So is Obama saying that he may have considered such a suggestion? Yeah, color me skeptical.

Then you had the sitting House Minority Leader say she was "near tears" by her feeling that Netanyahu was insulting the intelligence of the U.S.

Regardless of what the Prime Minister had said, the leftist narrative had pretty much been written.

Here's one egregious example:

Amazing how America-first Republicans are cheering on foreign leader denigrating American president & US national security
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) March 3, 2015

Hmmm. Dunno what speech (if any) Mr. Berman partook, but that seems in direct conflict from this excerpt:

NETANYAHU: We appreciate all that President Obama has done for Israel.

Now, some of that is widely known.

(APPLAUSE)

Some of that is widely known, like strengthening security cooperation and intelligence sharing, opposing anti-Israel resolutions at the U.N.

Some of what the president has done for Israel is less well- known.

I called him in 2010 when we had the Carmel forest fire, and he immediately agreed to respond to my request for urgent aid.

In 2011, we had our embassy in Cairo under siege, and again, he provided vital assistance at the crucial moment.

Or his support for more missile interceptors during our operation last summer when we took on Hamas terrorists.

(APPLAUSE)

In each of those moments, I called the president, and he was there.

And some of what the president has done for Israel might never be known, because it touches on some of the most sensitive and strategic issues that arise between an American president and an Israeli prime minister.

But I know it, and I will always be grateful to President Obama for that support.(APPLAUSE)

I guess the left's (and some libertarians) in-unison freak out would be more amusing to watch if it weren't so rooted in naivete.

I'm not certain what annoys me more: The fact Congressional Republicans caved or how their caving continues to feed the WIBERTY! chanting points on how there's no difference between Democrats and the Republicans.

Congress is sending President Barack Obama a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of the budget year, without overturning the president's immigration policies.

The House on Tuesday voted 257-167 for the measure that Obama is expected to sign. Without action, funding for the department would have expired Friday at midnight.

The outcome was a victory for Obama and Democrats, and a defeat for the GOP strategy of trying to overturn Obama's executive actions on immigration by linking them to funding for Homeland.

Republicans were unable to overcome united opposition from Senate Democrats to their strategy. They also suffered embarrassing internal divisions that left the country within hours of a partial agency shutdown last week.

The GOP has no one but themselves to blame for this debacle. When Obama overstepped his authority in November by issuing an order to ignore certain immigration laws on the books, GOP leadership threatened to allow DHS funding to lapse if said funding bill didn't contain a provision voiding Obama's executive order. The problem you have when making such a threat is you have to be willing to go all the way. Naturally, Congressional Republicans are a little gun shy about letting things lapse given they bore the brunt of the blame for the October 2013 shutdown and still got no concessions whatsoever when the Federal government reconvened.

As of this moment, however, Obama's executive order has been halted by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, though the U.S. Government is asking for a stay to be granted while the appeals process takes place (It appears unlikely that Hanen will grant the stay). In essence, this is what House Speaker John Boehner conveyed to the GOP caucus, saying that Obama's E.O. will be tied up in the courts, so voting for a "clean DHS funding bill" does not necessarily mean a vote for executive amnesty. Nevertheless, more than 2/3 of the Republican House members still voted "Nay" (so much for the Hastert Rule).

In the end, there was no way President Obama was going to sign a bill that undermined his own Executive Order (regardless if it's unpopular), especially since he never has to go through another election process. It was utterly foolish for the GOP to even suggest tying Obama's executive amnesty to the DHS funding if they had no plan B in place.

This whole fight between a one-party Congress and a president in the opposite political party is reminiscent of the final two years of the George W. Bush administration. The Democrats' 2006 campaign was to run against the war in Iraq, essentially playing on the weariness Americans felt with the conflict. It succeeded, as the Dems took control of both the House and Senate. However, they didn't immediately rush out and demand the Iraq war not be funded knowing full well it would appear they were abandoning our armed services personnel. As such, the Dem controlled Congress continued to pass no-strings-attached war funding bills, much to the chagrin of voters who put them in control. But a message was sent that the only way they could really bring the troops home was to have all Democrat rule in Washington, which happened when Obama was elected in 2008. We all know what ensued after that.

My point here is it appears not a whole lot will get done unless there's a Republican in the White House (assuming the GOP maintains its majority in Congress - not a sure thing) come January 2017. In the mean time, Republicans are pinning their hopes on the third coequal branch of government defying Obama's executive orders. As we learned with Obamacare in 2012, leaving it to the courts is a risky proposition.

Monday, March 02, 2015

Hillary Rodham Clinton (Oh, we're back to "Rodham Clinton?"- ed.) exclusively used a personal email account to conduct government business as secretary of state, State Department officials said, and may have violated federal requirements that officials’ correspondence be retained as part of the agency’s record.

Mrs. Clinton did not have a government email address during her four-year tenure at the State Department. Her aides took no actions to have her personal emails preserved on department servers at the time, as required by the Federal Records Act.

You gotta wonder if former IRS big wig Lois Lerner thought to herself "Why didn't I think of that?"

Naturally you're going to get the obligatory Hillary! apologists trying to steer the ship back on the path to inevitability.

So we're broaching the possibility of faulty legal advice? Dang, tough break. If only Mrs. Clinton had been more well versed in legal matters. I mean, it's not like she graduated from some Ivy League law sch......Oh, wait.

As Ed Morrissey astutely pointed out, Mrs. Clinton has a lot more to concern herself with than her 2016 presidential candidacy now being in peril. A gross violation of Federal law comes to mind.

Federal law requires government officials to conduct business communications on official media, for lots of good reasons. First, it allows for archival without the officials in question having an opportunity to “sanitize” the record. Second — and this is pretty important for the diplomatic corps — it allows the government to protect against intrusion from other nations and entities. Hillary’s practice of doing business through private servers bypassed both of those key protections.

Sunday, March 01, 2015

It's the first day of March, meaning it's the month spring arrives (allegedly). Nevertheless, we'll be back in the Patriot bunker for another edition of The Closer from 1:00 until 3:00 PM Central Time.

At 1:15, political wonk Matt Mackowiak will check in to discuss the continued infighting among Congressional Republicans over the Dept. of Homeland Security funding. In addition, we'll also chat about the President's veto of the Keystone XL pipeline, the weekend at CPAC, 2016 presidential prospects, etc.

Then at 2:00, political activist/blogger/Crystal city councilor Jeff Kolb will call in to the program. I'll get Jeff's insights on the latest news in Minnesota politics as well as his work on the Crystal City Council.

There's also been a lot of national news this past week, including more instances of Walker Derangement Syndrome that has catapulted the Wisconsin governor near the top of the GOP presidential field.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to discuss any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast, if you so desire. Check it out here.

About Me

Christian. Husband. Conservative. Sports rube.
I host a weekly radio show Sundays from 2:00 pm until 3:00 Central Time on Twin Cities station AM 1280 The Patriot. You can also listen online at www.am1280thepatriot.com